Fiscal Analysts: LSU Hospital Deal $39M Short

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The Legislature's financial analysts say Gov. Bobby Jindal's push to privatize the LSU-run hospital network is bringing in $39 million less than expected for the current budget year.

This year's budget was built on estimates provided to lawmakers by the Jindal administration that private hospital managers would lease the facilities for more than $140 million.

In a new publication, the Legislative Fiscal Office says that the leases so far are expected to generate about $101 million. That would leave a $39 million budget gap that lawmakers have to fill before June 30.

Jindal's commissioner of administration, Kristy Nichols, says the dollars will pan out as projected. In a statement, she says the report doesn't tally the full lease payments planned this year for the New Orleans, Shreveport and Monroe hospitals.